Powers with negative bases
(-2)4 = (-2)×(-2)×(-2)×(-2)
The sign of powers with negative bases depends on
whether a parenthesis is present or not.

-24 = -2×2×2×2
-24 is 
Powers with negative bases
negative
?
(-2)4 is 
positive
?
-1= -1×1×1×1×1×1
-13=
-14=
-15=
-12=
-16=
-11=
(-1)= (-1)(-1)(-1)(-1)(-1)(-1)
(-1)3=
(-1)4=
(-1)5=
(-1)2=
(-1)6=
(-1)1=
Expressions without the parentheses like -34are negative powers.This means the answer is negative.
Expressions with the parentheses like (-3)4have negative bases.This means you have to use the negativein each multiplication.The answer could be negative OR positivedepending on how many negatives there are.In this case the answer is positive.
Expressions like this are                     negative.
Expressions like this are                     negative.
(-a)b
-ab
sometimes
?
always
?
If the exponent (b) is
- an odd number (1, 3, 5...) the answer will be
- an event number (2, 4, 6...) the answer will be
Expressions like this are                     negative.
Expressions like this are                     negative.
(-a)b
-ab
sometimes
always
negative.
?
positive.
?
  • 6. (-2)6
  • 7. -26
  • 8. (-1)20
  • 9. -110
  • 10. (-3)3
  • 11. -24
  • 12. (-9)2
  • 13. -34
  • 14. (-1)7
  • 15. -14
  • 16. (-5)2
  • 17. (-5)3
  • 18. (-2)3
  • 19. (-3)2
  • 20. -32
  • 21. (-11)2
  • 22. (-7)2
  • 23. -72
  • 24. (-8)2
  • 25. -82
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